Saudi Foreign Minister Cancels U.N. Speech

Angry over the UN's "inability to resolve Palestine issue," Saudi Arabia cancels its address to the UN General Assembly.

By Kochava Rozenbaum

First Publish: 10/3/2013, 8:18 AM

Saud al-Faisal

US State Department

The Saudi Foreign Minister, Saud al-Faisal, has decided to cancel his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on charges that the international body has neglected the issues pertaining to the Arab and Islamic world.

Saudi sources have told Al Arabiya that the decision was made following the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's dissatisfaction of the U.N.'s position regarding the Syrian crisis and the "Palestinian issue." The Kingdom considers the U.N. at fault for not "resolving the Palestinian issue for over 60 years."

“Saudi Arabia is worried about Syria and senses that the U.N. Security Council, with its recent resolution, is taking Syria into a dark tunnel of endless negotiations and procedures to disarm Assad from his chemical weapons, neglecting the Syrian crisis taking place now,” Al Arabiya quoted Saudi journalist and political analyst, Jamal Khashoggi, as saying.

In an attempt to pressure the U.N. and possibility build a coalition of countries that seek a more serious approach by the international community to the issues of the Muslim world, the kingdom decided that it's foreign minister should withdraw from his speech at the General Assembly.

“Saudi Arabia is a leading country in the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] and could urge the GCC countries to take a similar position," Khashoggi added. "In addition to that, Arab countries usually turn to Saudi and adopt its position and vision when it comes to critical issues. Even Iran could stand with Saudi in that regard.”